Intensified import control

The European Commission has imposed intensified import controls on certain products where many shortcomings have been identified. For example, certain food and animal feed of non-animal origin from certain countries of origin or dispatch are subject to intensified controls.

When you import products that are subject to intensified controls to the EU, you must create a CHED-D (CHED = Common Health Entry Document) in TRACES before import. You must also send a separate advance notification to Customs’ Consumer Protection.

The goods must be brought into the EU via an approved border control post (BCP), and the CHED-D details must be provided in the import declaration. Customs may also inspect the goods.

Check if the product is subject to intensified import controls

The import restrictions on goods should always be checked in the Fintaric service before import. Please note that the products subject to intensified import controls may change.

Check the conditions regarding the commodity code and the country of origin in the Fintaric service. The product is subject to intensified import controls, if a CHED-D is required based on its commodity code and origin.

Check also, if e.g. an exemption provided for in the Regulation is applicable to the product, whereby no CHED-D is required (e.g. a small non-commercial consignment, or a small consignment for research purposes).

A CHED-D is required for food or feed of non-animal origin subject to intensified import controls. The commodity code may also be subject to other restrictions or documentation requirements. For example, imports of organic fruit may require a CHED-D, a phytosanitary certificate, a CHED-PP as well as a Certificate of Inspection (COI), the details of which must be provided in the customs declaration. 

The intensified import controls concern plastic household products made from polyamide or melamine, classified under CN code ex 3924 10 00 and sent from or originating in China or Hong Kong.

Before the goods arrive in Finland

An advance notification for the consignment must be submitted by email to kuluttajasuojelu@tulli.fi as well in advance as possible; however, no later than two workdays before the estimated arrival of the goods.

A signed copy of the assurance confirmed according to the template in the regulation, as well as the results of laboratory analyses referred to in the regulation, are sent as an advance notification. The laboratory statements should not be less than three years old and they must be clearly connected to the products in the import consignment, e.g. based on article number. Read more about the advance notification

When your goods arrive in Finland

An import declaration must be made for the import consignment (as a message, an online declaration or by visiting the customs office at the border crossing point). If an advance inquiry has been made for sampling of the import consignment, the received response should also be entered as well as the KUHA identification number of the response as additional information in the customs declaration.

If no advance notification has been made regarding the import consignment before the customs declaration is made, the required actions will be taken at the customs clearance stage. This may delay the processing of the customs declaration and the release of the consignment.

When the consignment is not subject to controls or sampling

If the consignment is not subjected to any control or sampling, Customs confirms the decision on release for the customs clearance, and the transport may continue its journey from the border control post.

When the consignment is subject to control or sampling

If a physical check of the consignment is carried out, it can be performed at a facility of an approved border control post (BCP) or the transport can be directed to an approved control point (CP). Using an approved control point requires that an advance application to use the warehouse facilities in question be submitted to Customs for approval.

Transfer to an approved control point (CP) is applied for with a customs declaration and the permission is granted with a transfer permit. The goods must be unloaded to an approved facility and be kept separate from other goods. As regards taking samples and carrying out the control, the written instructions for the transfer permit are followed.

When the results of the control or the examination are available, Customs confirms the release decision for the import consignment, whereby the goods can be transported freely.

If non-compliances, which prevent the importation of the goods, have been observed during the control or examination, the release decision is not confirmed and the operator must immediately take the actions required by Customs to return, destroy or repair the goods.

The intensified import controls on certain feed and food of non-animal origin apply to a number of products and countries of origin listed in the Annexes to Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 and other intensified control regulations. The product range is updated every six months.

Products and countries of origin possibly being covered by the intensified controls can be checked in the Commodity code service Fintaric. 

Before the goods arrive in Finland

An electronic declaration regarding the import consignment should be submitted in the Commission’s Traces system as well in advance as possible; however, no later than one workday before the arrival of the goods. Copies of attachments (such as invoices), can either be loaded as attachments to the declaration in TRACES or they can be sent to kuluttajasuojelu@tulli.fi as email attachments to the advance inquiry for sampling. When sending emails to the Consumer Protection mailbox, you must always mention separately that an import declaration has been submitted to TRACES.

The importation of the goods does not require the presentation of the original sanitary certificates or other certificates at the border control post.

When your goods arrive in Finland

An import declaration must be made for the import consignment (as a message, an online declaration or by visiting the customs office at the border crossing point). The identification number confirmed by TRACES should be added as an attachment to the import declaration. The response received to the advance inquiry for sampling, as well as the KUHA identification number of the response, are entered as additional information in the customs declaration.

If no advance notification has been made regarding the import consignment before the customs declaration is made, the required actions will be taken at the customs clearance stage. This may delay the processing of the customs declaration and the release of the consignment.

When the consignment is not subject to controls or sampling

If the consignment is not subjected to any control or sampling, Customs confirms the decision on release for the customs clearance, and the transport may continue its journey from the border control post.

When the consignment is subjected to control or sampling

If a physical check of the consignment is carried out, it can be performed at a facility of an approved border control post (BCP) or the transport can be directed to a facility of an approved control point (CP). Using an approved control post requires that an advance application to use the warehouse facility be submitted to Customs for approval.

Transfer to an approved control point (CP) is applied for with a customs declaration and the permission is granted with a transfer permit. The goods must be unloaded to an approved facility and be kept separate from other goods. As regards taking samples and carrying out the control, the written instructions for the transfer permit are followed.

When the results of the control or the examination are available, Customs confirms the release decision for the import consignment, whereby the goods can be transported freely.

If non-compliances, which prevent the importation of the goods, have been observed during the control or examination, the release decision is not confirmed and the operator must immediately take the actions required by Customs to return, destroy or repair the goods.

The intensified import controls on certain feed and food of non-animal origin apply to a number of products and countries of origin listed in the Annexes to Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 and other intensified control regulations. The product range is updated every six months.

Products and countries of origin possibly being covered by the intensified controls can be checked in the Commodity code service Fintaric.

Before the goods arrive in Finland

An electronic declaration regarding the import consignment should be submitted in the Commission’s Traces system as well in advance as possible; however, no later than one workday before the arrival of the goods. Copies of attachments can be loaded as attachments to the Traces notification or they can be sent to kuluttajasuojelu@tulli.fi as email attachments to the advance inquiry for sampling. When sending emails to the Consumer Protection mailbox, you must always mention separately that an import declaration has been submitted to TRACES.

Furthermore, the importer must deliver to Customs at the approved border control post, the original documents prescribed by law concerning the goods item; results of sampling and analyses confirmed by the competent authority in the third country and an official certificate (annex IV of the abovementioned regulation). During the transitional period until 13 June 2020, a confirmed health certificate can be presented instead of an official certificate.

After the documents have been authenticated, Customs at the border control post certifies in TRACES that the document control has been carried out, and archives the original documents at approved border control posts (BCP).

When your goods arrive in Finland

An import declaration must be made for the import consignment (as a message, an online declaration or by visiting the customs office at the border crossing point). The identification number confirmed by TRACES should be added as an attachment to the import declaration. The response received to the advance inquiry for sampling, as well as the KUHA identification number of the response, are entered as additional information in the customs declaration.

If no advance notification has been made regarding the import consignment before the customs declaration is made, the required actions will be taken at the customs clearance stage. This may delay the processing of the customs declaration and the release of the consignment.

When the consignment is not subject to controls or sampling

If the consignment is not subjected to any control or sampling, Customs confirms the decision on release for the customs clearance, and the transport may continue its journey from the border control post.

When the consignment is subject to control or sampling

If a physical check of the consignment is carried out, it can be performed at a facility of an approved border control post (BCP) or the transport can be directed to a facility of an approved control point (CP). Using an approved control post requires that an advance application to use the warehouse facility be submitted to Customs for approval.

Transfer to an approved control point (CP) is applied for with a customs declaration and the permission is granted with a transfer permit. The goods must be unloaded to an approved facility and be kept separate from other goods. As regards taking samples and carrying out the control, the written instructions for the transfer permit are followed.

When the results of the control or the examination are available, Customs confirms the release decision for the import consignment, whereby the goods can be transported freely.

If non-compliances, which prevent the importation of the goods, have been observed during the control or examination, the release decision is not confirmed and the operator must immediately take the actions required by Customs to return, destroy or repair the goods.

Regulations on intensified import controls

Foods
Food contact materials

(Materials coming into contact with foodstuffs and subject to intensified controls are to be easily separated from the rest of the consignment, and easily presented to Customs).

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